Ladder Yards

[Scott Chapin]

I am having a problems designing a ladder yard. When starting with a turnout off the main line, say a lefthand turnout, all the others beg to be righthand. This seems to me to create a nasty reverse curve. One that you can pull cars through, but not push them through.

Where can I get some decent information on creating double ended ladder yards?

Thanks,

Scott

 

[N Gauger]

Welcome aboard Scott!!

I googled a railroad yard search for images:

http://images.google.com/images?q=railroad+yard&btnG=Search&svnum=10&hl=en&lr=

but in the meantime, I'm guessing you mean - 2 switches right together causing the "dreaded" S curve

If you put a length of straight in betwen the 2 switches it'll help.

Also - you mention "Double ended" if the yard is double ended you would very seldom have to reverse through the "S".

Here's a G scale Yard I took at a show... It's a good Ladder View:

Notice the "S" (just above) in the lower pic....

 

[Gary Pfeil]

Scott, The S curve you get in a ladder such as you descibe usually doesn't present a problem with derailments. Particularly if you use # 6 turnouts. Atlas snaptrack switches used in conjunction with truck mounted couplers may cause a problem when being pushed thru, but it isn't the s so much as the tight turnout and truck mounted couplers. The reason an S curve in this situation is, for all intnts and purposes, exempt ftom the taboo of S curves, is that switching speeds are slow. S curves created by crossovers on double track mains, even with # 6's, also require speed restrictions (on the prototype too!)

Gary

 

[jim currie]

have used #4's on yard ladders because of space limitations and have had no problems using body mounted couplers and proper car weights

 

[Scott Chapin]

Thanks guys,

My first go at it was with Atlas no. 6 turnouts (snap track) and truck mounted couplers, both rapido couplers and Micro-Trains. I would have expected body mounted couplers to be more problematic, since they swing away from the track's center line to a greater degree. Wouldn't this buckling pick the trucks up off the rails?

I was under the impression that body mounted couplers require larger turning radii.

Scott

 

[Pitchwife]

Hi Scott
This is one solution I came across to help out in yards.
All of the switches, with the exception of the mainline in red and the A/D in darker blue are #4 Atlas Customline switches.

Having some problems uploading the image.

 

[Scott Chapin]

Hi Clark,

Is there a link here? Otherwise, I'm not sure what you mean with the colors. Also, I'm not sure with the meaning of A/D. Ooops! Spoke too soon. The plans are there now!

Thanks!

 

[Tileguy]

Atlas customline or peco electrofrogs will give you a more functional ladder arrangement than Atlas insulfrogs.they are smoother ot seems for ladder arrangements.
Clarks stub ended example above could also be turned into a through yard with the same lead in arrangement reversed.the above example would be a better choice if Atlas insulfrogs are used IMHO.
Insulfrogs however are a poor choice for any yard arrangement with perhaps the exception of a staging yard where switching will not be done.

 

[belg]

Tileguy, I think somewhere in your response you went wrong, in one sentence you say don't use insulfrog and then you say to use them. I think you meant to say customline here right? Or am I reading it wrong???? Also lets say I have access to only atlas what would be the best to use for code 100 track?? Pat
"a better choice if Atlas insulfrogs are used IMHO"

 

[SAL Comet]

Hi Clark,

Is there a link here? Otherwise, I'm not sure what you mean with the colors. Also, I'm not sure with the meaning of A/D. Ooops! Spoke too soon. The plans are there now!

Thanks!

Ha Scott, welcome to The Gauge. A/D stands for arival and departure. Usually the A/D track is between the main and the yard ladder.

I have two #4 atlas turnouts as crossovers and into a yard with the only derail problems I've had is with hoppers that aren't up to weight.

 

[Scott Chapin]

Tileguy, I think somewhere in your response you went wrong

I don't think so. Tileguy implied that insulfrogs would work on Clark's yard, because there would not be a lot of low speed motive power in that style of yard.

Parking locomotives on insulfrogs can be a frustrating experience, so heavy switching areas need constant contact with juice.

That's my take on it anyway.

Scott

 

[Scott Chapin]

Hey Scott,

Thanks, after all these years, I don't know why I've never picked up on that!

 

[Tileguy]

Scott, at least you understood what i said, and thats what counts.

Pat, i can see where it was confusing.I'm not a big insulfrog fan and ive had my share of them causing me to do modifications on locomotives,wiring for tender pickup etc.

If its a first or second layout and is being built on a tight budget, there are ways to use insulfrogs to save some money.(particularly with the new locomotives)But, for an experienced modeler building a layout for operations,insulfrogs should only be used where they cant be seen and wont interfere with smooth operating.